Process for distilling solid carbonaceous materrials.



March 26, 1929. w. E. TRENT 1,706,420

PROCESS FOR DISTILLING SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS Filed Jan. 1 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuento'c March. 6, 1929. w. E. TRENT PROCESS FOR DISTILLING SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS Filed Jan. 11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 7

" numb PATENT OFFICE.

I WALTER. Enwm' TRENT,

or wA'snmeTomfn sTmcT or conumam, ASSIGNOB To TRENT PROCESS con-ronATron', ormaw lvonx, N. Y.,-. A CORPORATION or DELA- .YVAIRIE.

PROCESS FOR msTILnme .soLInf :dannonncnous MATERIALS.

Application and 1m 11,1923." Serial no. 612,080.

The invention relates to improvements in a process for removing volatiles-from carbonaceous materials, and'forming a carbonized or coked residue. I

Theinvention rimarily consists of a processfor distil ing pulverized coal, or plastic mixtures of coal. and oilin which the carbonaceous fuel is placed in a retort and on a heating 'surface therein provided with a pluralityof vertically disposed heat radiating elements that are surrounded by the carbonaceousfuel toapply therein heat to allparts of the charge.

' standing heating In accordance with this process, the carbonaceous fuelwhich may be pulverized coal,

or a mixture of coal and oil, is introduced .to-a retorthavi-ng a base ands-series ofupelements projecting from said base so thatthe' fuel has formed therein a plurality of openings providing extra heating surfaces, the walls ofwhich contact with said heating elements. The vertical in effect-,form

combined -mandrels and heating devices out its massiat a lurality of different points,

"causing a rapi the production of a carbonized residue. 1 I a Patent No..1,591,729, dated July 6, 1926,

d "Referring indicate corresponding tspeciiicreference to t e retort shown in Figure .1,- the numeral. 1

whereby heat is applied to the fuel throughvaporizati'on of the fuel mass and The present invention odification of the process disclosed in my which was copending with the present case,

"and in this broader aspect,-provides means "for forming openings in the/ comrnrnuted coal charge by the upstand ng heating 'elements, eliminating. the necessit 'of first forming in --a bonded vmass a p urality of 'flues for the passage of heat'when said mass is inserted in a retort in the manner disclosed in my said Patent No. 1,591,729.

In the, accompanying drawings, I have shown two forms, of apparatus for carrying out thisprocess, in which Figure :1 represents a'view of an electrically heated retort I forming a part of'a stove; and,.Fi ure 2 is a view of a gas heated retort where the gases discharge to a collector.

whereinlike reference characters parts, and havin electrically heate drawings,

the retort which may i designates the body' of contemplates a externally surrounding the heating elements,

other convenient manner.

now more particularly to the 'introduc'eto the retort a ing of finely pulverized coal or may not be lined with a refractory material. The retortghas a supporting base 2 composed of insulating-material upon which there 1s seated an electric base grid 4 prov ded with a plurality of upstanding heat conducting mandrels 5 Whichfwill be more full hereinafter described. The upper end of t e body has attached thereto by removable bolts'6 anextension 7 being-dished at ts under surface and formed with a plurallty of burnerjetsS adapted to extend upwardly ad acent a vessel support 9 upon 7 which a vessel 10 is seated.- These jets are controlled'by valves 11 and receive gas passing from the pocket-on the under side'of the extens1on'7, which gas is fuel introduced to there connected with the electric connector .11 at one side of the base.\- The id is preferably formed with a plurality o aperturesreceiving the upstanding mandrel and heating elements 5. These elements are preferably of a tapering'form and have an external wiring '12 of resistance material connected with the source of current supplied at the connector The resistance elements are shown as but it will be understood that said elements may be internally wound or heated in any The upstanding elements function to form ina mass of fuel that is introduced to the retort a plurality of. vertical spaces and to impart heat directly tOTthB walls of such spaces whereby the volatiles will be rapidly-vaporized, obviating the necessity. of heat penetrating from the baseof the retort upwardly through the entire mass. These heating elements need not be wound with anelectric wiring and may, if desirable, conductheatto the walls of the space by heat conduction. When using the apparatus for the generation of gas, comminuted coal is placed within the body 1 of the retort and tamped around the upstanding heatin mandrels 5 therein. In lieu of pulverize ,coal I may plastic fuel consistand oil of a which fuel is consistenc resembling mortar,

produced y the process disclosed in my Patout No. 1,420,164. This fuel has been found l fhen a fuel charge has been introduced to the retort electric current is applied to the base grid at and also preferably to the up standing heating elements 5 resulting inthe application of heat to the base of the charge and also to the Walls of the spaces oropenings surrounding said heating elements 5. The heat is thereby applied throughout the mass of carbonaceous material so that the volatiles rapidly'vaporiz and a carbonized residue forms in the retort. This heating continues until the material has been con 'verted to a carbonized substance or coke whereupon the extension 7 is removed and the retort turned to an inverted position to in this construction the gases produced are led oh to a container and there stored for subsequent use. oils dlsclosedin this li ure the bodyof the retort is indicated by the character the same having a movable closure '21 provided with a gas outlet 22 leading to a gas storage container.

A hollow base'% is provided having bafies 24. therein, a gas inlet 25 for introducing gas and air to be burned in the hollow in terior of the base, the-products of cornbustion passing out through the. discharge 26.

' The heating base 27 is formed with a plurality of upstanding heating mandrels 28 and 29 respectively, the rnandrels $8 being hollow so that heating gases pass upwardly therein, While the mandrels 29 are of a solid formation. l hen this apparatus is in use the movable closure 21 is removed and supply of material which may be com rninuted coal or a mixture of 'coal and oil is introduced to the container 20 and tamped around the upstanding mandrels 28 and 29 therein and the closure then replaced. The. combustible charge admitted to the base of the retort is ignited and the combustion gases heat the base 27 and the mandrels to awtemperature of say 1500 F. This results in rapid vaporization of the volatiles in the mass, the heat being-applied throughout the mass by reason of the heating mandrels 28 and 29, and these volatiles pass on through the outlet in the container 21 to a point of storage. When a coke residue has been formed the closure 21 is removed and the green. material being then placed in t tort. 1

carbonized material discharged, a supply of e re- As a further modification of the invention 1 may eliminate using the grid 4: shown in Figure 1 as a heating grid by disconnecting the electric current therewith and apply'all of the heat to the fuel charge through the mandrels 5. ll, however, preferably apply heat to the grid, as this assists in a rapid vaporization of the volatiles.

In the accompanying drawings l have merely shown the preferred embodiments of this invention, but it will be appreciated that the retorts may be materially changed in construction, and that a series of the retorts may be used if desired, Without departing from this invention so long as there is provided in each. retort a heating base and a plurality of upstanding heating elements which serve as mandrels in each retort and to also apply heat to the Walls of the openings formed by said mandrels in the fuel being treated.

in actual practice it may be desirable at times to subjecta charge otgreen fuel to its initial heat treatment by the use of electrically heated mandrels, and as distillation proceeds, to discontinue use of electric energy "ing said mandrels with the carbonaceous fuel, and in heating the 'niandrels to apply heat to the carbonaceous fuel to vaporize the volatiles in the charge and form a'carbonized mass having therein a series of openings when removed from the retort.

2. A process of distilling solid carbonaceous fuels in a retort having a plurality of heating mandrels, consisting in supplying fuel to the retort to surround the mandrels and form in the fuel charge a plurality of separated openings, and in heating said mandrels to apply heat to said carbonaceous charge around said nandrels to vaporize the volatiles in the cha rge" and form a carbonized fuel residue. I

A process for distilling comminuted substantially solid carbonaceous fuels in a retort having heating mandrels, consisting in supplying said fuel tothe retort to surround the mandrels, and in' heating said mandrels to apply heat to the surrounding carbonaceous fuel to remove its volatiles and produce a carbonized residue. 1

in testimony whereof "l afix my signature; I v

' WALTER EDWIN TRENT. 

